Electrical selector switch



June 12, 1956 Filed July 29, 1953 E. E. HOSEA ET AL ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l nVE NTOH. J

Everet! EI. Hosea UdY'i-Clfl T Goduchalx June 12, 1956 E. E.'HOSEA ET AL ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1953 VENTOQL/ EveY'GH E. Hosea. Molvtan T Codackalx WI %,WJUQ

(ATTORME-Y/ United States Patent 2,750,459 ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH Everett E. Hosea, Kaukauna, and Adrian T. Godschalx,

Appleton, Wis assignors to Kaukauna Machine Corporation, Kaukauna, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 29, M53, Serial No. 37 @914 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-18) The invention pertains to electrical switches and more particularly to electrical selector switches.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved electrical switch which permits selection of a series of electrical circuits in forward and reverse order and which automatically operates an auxiliary switching circuit upon changing the order in which selection is made of the series of circuits.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control switch for an electric motor which will connect the input of the motor to selected ones of a series of electrical circuits in a forward and reverse sequence and which will change the direction of motor rotation to correspond to the forward or reverse order of selecting the electrical circuits.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch having a reversibly rotatable switch selector with an indexing mechanism to direct the selector into engagement with individual ones of a series of stationary electrical contacts and having a second switch unit which is automatically operated upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the switch selector regardless of its rotated position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a switch construction embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the switch taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the movable contact assembly for the switch.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the auxiliary switching mechanism in its respective limit positions.

Fig' 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the detent wheel and followers in an intermediate position.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiment is shown in the drawings and will, herein be described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention by such disclosure, but on the contrary to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an electrical selector switch It embodying the invention, is illustrated. The supporting structure or frame of the switch comprises a pair of circular frame plates or disks 11, 12 held in spaced parallel relation by a set of tubular spacers 13. in the present instance, three spacers 13 positioned at equally spaced intervals about the edge portion of the frame plates 11, 12 are used. Fasteners, such as screws 16 and nuts 17, are provided to hold the frame assembly together.

The switch is adapted to be operated by means of an operator shaft 19 which extends coaxially with they common center line of the frame plates 11, 12 and is journaled for rotation in bearings formed by the edges. of central holes in the plates. A forward end portion. 20

Patented June 12, 1956 of the shaft 19 projects forwardly beyond the front frame plate and has a flattened side face 21 to facilitate attachment of a hand knob for manual operation or other suitable driving connection.

in carrying out the present invention, the switch is provided for a first selector switching mechanism for making electrical contact with individual ones of a series of switch contacts in forward and reverse order, and a second or auxiliary switching mechanism adapted for movement alternatively between a pair of switching positions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the series of switch contacts associated with the first selector mechanism comprises a set of short metallic leaf spring members 24 arranged in a circular pattern parallel to and spaced rearwardly of the rear frame plate. Supporting the spring members is an annularly shaped mounting disk or strip 25 of insulating material, such as laminated plastic, which is held in spaced relation behind the rear frame plate by means of a set of short tubular insulating spacers 26. These spacers are preferably alined with the frame assembly spacers 13 and the frame fasteners 16 are made long enough to extend rearwardly through the mounting disk 25 and its spacers 26 to secure the disk in position.

The spring contact members 24 are fastened to the rear face of the mounting disk 25 by suitable fasteners 27 such as wood type screws, and are positioned to lie along substantially equally spaced radii with their inner end portions 29 projecting into the central opening 39 formed by the inner circular edge of the annular mounting disk. In the preferred embodiment, nine contact members 24 are provided, which together with a blank or off position 31, are spaced at ten equal intervals about the mounting disk 25. The outer end portions 32 of the spring members are bent away from the mounting disk and may be apertured to form terminals adapted for connection of a series of electrical circuits to the switch.

Cooperating with the series of stationary contacts 24 is a movable contact adapted to engage the individual switch contacts in both forward and reverse order. In the present instance, the movable contact is a metallic stud 34 mounted eccentrically of the switch shaft 19 adjacent the edge of a circular carrier disk 35 and has its end portions pressed to form crown or semi-spherical buttons 36 in the nature of rivet heads which serve both as electrical contact surfaces and as retainers for the stud. The carrier disk 35 is fixed to a rearwardly projecting end portion 37 of the switch operator shaft for rotation in unison with the shaft and is positioned rearwardly of the switch frame to rotate within the central opening 30 of the stationary contact mounting disk 25. Thus, as the open ator shaft 19 is rotated, the carrier disk 35 swings the movable contact stud 34 bodily through a circular path or orbit coincident with the positions or" inwardly projecting end portions 29 of the stationary contact spring members. The latter are provided with mating semi-spherical forwardly facing contact surfaces 39 for resiliently engaging the rear one of the movable contact buttons or heads 36 as the carrier disk revolves the movable contact from one stationary contact to another.

Clamped against the forward or inner face of the mounting disk 25 by the mounting disk spacers 26 is a metallic collector plate 41 of circular shape. The forward button or head 36 of the movable contact stud is positioned to be in constant sliding contact with the collector plate to form an electrically conducting path from an electrical circuit connected to any engaged one of the stationary contacts through the movable contact and collector plate to an electrical circuit connected to a terminal lug 42 provided on the outer edge of the collector. plate.

Suitable electrical insulating washers or radially extending shoulders on the insulating spacers 26 may be used if desired to insulate the collector plate from the metal frame assembly.

The second or auxiliary switching mechanism in the illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a toggle switch unit 4-4 of well known construction having a rectilinear body 45 with a projecting tubular neck portion 46 from which extends a toggle lever iii. In the present instance, a single pole, double throw type switch for making electrical contact alternatively with either of a pair of stationary contacts, is used. It will be appreciated that any suitable two position switch having a swingable actuator may be used. The toggle switch unit 44 is mounted between the frame plates ll, 12 adjacent the rear frame plate 12 by means of an angle bracket 49 having one leg fastened to the rear frame plate 12 and the other leg apertured to receive the neck portion 4-6 of the toggle switch. A pair of clamping nuts Sll engaging screw threads on the outside of the neck portion clamp the toggle switch to the angle bracket d9. Circuit connection terminals '51 are provided on the ends of the toggle switch body.

To position the movable contact 34 of the first selector switch mechanism in engagement with the stationary contacts 24 on the mounting disk, indexing means is provided for resiliently urging the movable contact to swing past the open intervals between the stationary contacts and come to rest in alinement with the individual ones of the stationary contacts. For this purpose, an indexing cam and resiliently biased follower arrangement is provided which resiliently urges the switch operator shaft 19 into a series of rest positions angularly spaced to correspond to the desired contact switch positions. In the preferred embodiment, the cam comprises a star or detent form of cam wheel 52 fixed to the switch shaft 1% for rotation in unison and having a series of spaced radial teeth 53 and intermediate valleys 54 on its peripheral edge.

Coacting with the cam wheel 52. and adapted to ride over its peripheral cam surface is a follower roller 55 which is held against movement in the direction of cam rotation but permitted to move in and out over the teeth 53 of the cam wheel. To limit the roller 55 to such motion, the roller is mounted on the central portion of a bifurcated lever -6 having two arms which lie on opposite sides of the roller 55 and are apertured to receive a pin 53 for pivotally supporting the roller. The lever 56 in turn is pivotally mounted adjacent one end to the front frame plate if to allow bodily swing of the roller 55 toward and from the cam wheel 52 as the roller rides in and out of the valleys 54 and over the teeth 53 on the cam surface.

Means are also provided to impose a resilient force on the roller 55 to urge it inwardly against the cam surface for rotatively cumming the switch shaft 1? around until the roller lies the bottom of the closest one of the valleys 54 on the cam surface. in the present instance, this means comprises a stressed coil spring 60 connected between the free end of the roller supporting lever 56 and a point on the front frame plate 11 located to force the lever and roller inwardly against the peripheral edge of the cam wheel 52. The inward resilient force on the roller 55' supplied by the spring 6t), presses the roller against the sides of the cam teeth and valleys which, as shown in the drawings, are sloped with respect to the direction of inward movement of the roller. The roller 55 consequently rotates the cam wheel 5'2 and switch shaft 19 until the roller is alined with and moves inwardly to the bottom of one of the valleys S4, and when so positioned, resists further rotation of the switch shaft 19 until a sufficient rotational force is applied to the shaft to move the follower outwardly over the sides of the teeth against the counteracting resilient force of the spring 6% The action of the cam wheel 52 and resiliently biased follower 55 not only indexes the movable contact 34 between ongaged positions and holds it in contacting engagement, but also indicates to the switch operator the number of switch positions traversed. The successive variations in force needed to move the roller outwardly over successive teeth provide a distinct feel on the switch shaft as each cam tooth and valley, representing a switch position, is encountered.

The valleys 54 on the cam wheel surface thus determine the rest positions of the switch shaft 19, and the cam wheel 52 is angularly adjusted around the shaft until the roller lies in the respective valleys of the cam wheel when the movable selector contact 34 is in alined engagement with the respective stationary contacts 24-. In the present instance, the cam wheel 52 is provided with ten substantially equally spaced teeth 53 and intermediate valleys to correspond to the similarly spaced ten contact positions on the contact mounting disk, including the nine stationary contacts 24 and the blank or ofi position 31. it will be understood that variations in spacings between individual contact positions may be made so long as the spacings on the cam wheel are similarly varied to provide indexing of the switch shaft corresponding to the desired positioning of the movable contact in engagement with the individual stationary contact positions.

in accordance with the present invention, means are also provided for actuating a second switching mechanism, which in the present instance comprises the previously described toggle switch unit 44-, as an incident to the reversal of the direction or order of selection of the series of contact positions of the first switching mechanism. Such switching operation is particularly suited for controlling an electric motor used to position a mechanically driven part of a machine or device. in such application, the series of stationary contacts would be connected to circuits including a series of positioning limit switches or the like, and the toggle switch unit would be connected to a reversing circuit for the motor so that both the position of the driven part and its direction of movement can controlled by a single switch operator.

For this purpose, a second cam and follower arrangement cooperating with the switch operator is provided. The follower is mounted relative to the cam such that the follower is movable alternatively in one direction in unison with the cam for actuating the toggle switch unit and in a second direction to permit relative movement between the follower and cam. In the present instance, the cam is a start or detent wheel fixedly mounted on the operator shaft and comprises the cam wheel 52 used in the previously described indexing means. The follower comprises a short roller 62 mounted to engage the peripheral cam surfaces of the star wheel 52.

To permit movement of the follower roller '62 in a direction in unison with the cam wheel 52, the roller is supported by a pair of actuator plates 63 positioned on respective sides of the cam wheel 52 and journaled on the switch operator shaft 15? for movement relative to the shaft. When the follower roller 62 is positioned in a valley 54 of the cam wheel between adjacent teeth 53, rotation of the switch shaft 19 in either direction will swing the roller 62 and actuator plates 63 about the axis of the shaft in unison with the shaft and cam wheel. This swinging movement is utilized to actuate the toggle switch unit .4, which, as shown in the drawings, is mounted with its toggle lever 43 extending generally to ward the switch operator shaft 19 for movement between its two switch positions about an axis parallel to the shaft. Extending rearwardly from the actuator plates in a parallel offset relation to the switch shaft is a rigidly mounted actuator pin 65 which projects between a pair of arms 66 on the bifurcated end portion of the toggle lever in the manner of a pin and slot connection. Upon swinging of the actuator plates 63 through a short arc, which is limited by engagement between a pair of spaced abutments 67 on the front frame plate llll and a finger 68 on the actuator plates, the actuator pin 65 swings sidewise in an arcuate path moving the toggle lever 48 from one switch position to the other depending on the direction of swing of the actuator plates. The stop abutments 67 are spaced apart a distance to permit actuation of the toggle lever 48, but to prevent disengagement of the actuator pin 65 from the lever arms 66.

interconnecting the cam follower 62 and the actuator plates 63 is a resiliently biased lever 70 which permits relative movement between the follower 62 and the cam wheel 52 subsequent to actuation of the toggle switch 44. In the present instance, the lever 70 comprises a pair of spaced arms 71 lying along the outer sides of the actuator plates 63, and pivotally connected adjacent one end to the plates by a pivot pin 72, passing through a spacer '73 between the plates. In the illustrative device shown in the drawings, the follower roller 62 lies between the actuator plates 63 and is supported on an axle pin 75 which projects through arcuate slots 76 in the actuator plates 63 and is secured at its ends to the lever arms 71 centrally of their length. The free ends of the lever arms 71 are bent together and apertured for connection to one end of a coil spring 78, the other end of which is anchored to a second spacer '73 between the actuator plates. The coil spring 78 is positioned to pull the lever 70 towards the cam wheel 52 and to urge follower roller 62 resiliently against the peripheral cam surface of the cam wheel and into the valleys 54 on the cam wheel but permitting the follower 62 to ride over the adjacent detents 53 to provide a releasable connection between the follower and cam.

This resilient connection swings the follower 62 and actuator plates 63 in unison with the switch operator shaft 19 and cam wheel 52- through the small arc needed to throw the toggle switch lever 48 from one to the other of its positions, and allows the shaft and cam wheel to continue rotation after the swing of the follower and actuator plates is completed and stopped by one of the limit abutments 67. Reversing the direction of the switch shaft 19 for selecting the stationary contacts 24 in their reverse order causes the follower 62 and actuator plates 63 to swing in the reverse direction against the other abutment 67 and throw the toggle switch back to its first position. Continued rotation of the switch shaft in the reverse direction, again causes the follower to move in and out over the detents 53 on the cam Wheel 52 as long as the rotation is continued in the same direction. The stop abutments 67 are preferably oriented about the switch shaft to allow the actuator follower 62 in its limit positions to ride in and out over the cam wheel 52 in unison with the indexing follower 55.

In operation of the switch, the operator rotates the switch shaft 19 in either direction to select whichever one of the stationary contacts 24 he wishes. The indexing mechanism will indicate to him the number of switch positions through which he has turned the switch shaft 19 and when he approaches the selected position the indexing mechanism alines and holds the shaft 19 and movable switch contact 34 in circuit engagement with a stationary contact 24. Should the operator now Wish to select a switch position previously passed, he can turn the shaft U backwardly and as he does so the actuator mechanism for the toggle switch 44 will throw the toggle switch lever 48 from its one position to the other during the initial backward shaft rotation. As long as the switch shaft is rotated rearwardly the toggle switch 44 is not again actuated. If the operator again reverses the direction of rotating the switch shaft 19, for example, to return to his first selected position, the toggle switch lever 48 will again be thrown to its original position, thus providing an electrical control mechanism which corresponds to the direction of rotation of the switch shaft.

We claim as our invention:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a selector switch mechanism including a movable contact and a series of stationary contacts arranged in sequence,

an operator shaft adapted for reversible rotation for moving said movable contact into selective contact with said series of stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequence, means for indexing said movable contact into alined engagement with selected ones of said series of stationary contacts including a star wheel on said shaft and a resiliently biased follower, a reversing switch mechanism including a double throw switch unit having a two position operating lever, means for actuating said switch lever from one to the other of its two positions including a second follower for engagement with said star wheel, means for supporting said second follower to permit limited movement in unison with said star wheel upon reversal of rotation of said operator shaft and to permit disengagement of said follower after such limited movement, and means interconnecting said second follower and said two position operating lever of said double throw switch unit to actuate the latter during the limited unison movement of said follower with said star wheel.

2. An electrical switch comprising, in combination, a first selector switching mechanism including a movable contact and a series of stationary contacts arranged in sequential order, an operator shaft rotatable in forward and reverse directions for moving said movable contact into engagement with individual ones of said stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequential order, means for indexing said movable contact into alined engagement with individual ones of said stationary contacts including a detent wheel on said shaft and a follower resiliently urged into engagement with said detent wheel, a second switching mechanism including a double throw switch unit, means for actuating said second switching mechanism including a second follower mounted for releasable engagement with said detent wheel, and means for interconnecting said second follower and said switch unit for actuating said switch unit upon reversal of the direction of selecting said series of stationary contacts.

3. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a first switch mechanism including a series of stationary contacts arranged in sequence and a movable contact, an operator shaft adapted for reversible rotation for selectively moving said movable contact into engaging contact with said series of stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequence, means for indexing said movable contact into alined engagement with selected ones of said series of stationary contacts including a cam means movable in unison with said movable contact and a resiliently biased follower, a second switch mechanism having a two position actuator, and means for moving said actuator from one to the other of its two positions including a second follower positioned for engagement with said cam means and mounted for limited movement in unison with said carn means upon initial movement of said movable contact in forward and reverse directions and for movement relative to said cam means upon continued movement of said movable contact.

4. An electrical switch comprising, in combination, a first selector switching mechanism including a movable contact and a series of stationary contacts arranged in sequential order, an operator shaft rotatable in forward and reverse directions for moving said movable contact into engagement with individual ones of said stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequential order, means for indexing said movable contact into alined engagement with individual ones of said stationary contacts including a cam fixed on said shaft and a follower resiliently urged into engagement with said detent wheel and mounted for releasing movement away from said cam, a second switching mechanism including a two position switch unit, means for actuating said second switching mechanism including a second follower resiliently urged into engagement with said cam and mounted for limited movement in the direction of cam rotation and for releasing movement away from said cam so that said second switching mechanism is thrown from one to the other of its switch positions upon initial movement of said shaft in a changed direction of rotation.

5. In a selector switch, the combination comprising, an operator shaft adapted for reversible rotation, a star cam fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith and having a series of radially projecting teeth defining valleys therebetween, first and second rollers positioned to engage said cam wheel, means for supporting said first roller for movement into and out of the said valleys on said cam wheel and for restraining said roller from movement in the direction of cam rotation, means for resiliently urging said first roller into the said valleys for resiliently rotating said shaft to ones of a series of stop positions, means for supporting said second roller for movement into and out of the said valleys on said cam wheel and for permitting movement of said first roller in the direction of cam rotation between two limit positions, means for resiliently holding said second roller in the said valleys to move said second roller between said limit positions and releasing said second roller from the said valleys to permit continued rotation of said shaft after said second roller reaches a limit position, a two position switch unit, and means for transmitting the movement of said second roller in the direction of cam rotation for actuating said switch unit to one or the other of its switch positions.

6. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a first switch mechanism including a movable contact and a series of stationary contacts arranged in sequence, an operator shaft adapted to move said movable contact into selective engagement with individual ones of said stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequence, a second switch mechanism including a switch unit having a two position actuator, means for actuating said second switch mechanism upon reversal of the order of selecting said stationary contacts, including an actuator plate journaled on said operator shaft for rotation relative thereto, means for interconnecting said plate and said switch actuator for moving the latter from one to the other of its positions upon rotation of said plate, means for limiting the rotation of said plate to an amount sufficient to actuate said switch unit, a star cam having peripheral teeth and valleys fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, a follower for said cam adapted to enter the valleys of said cam for rotation in unison therewith, a lever pivotally mounted on said actuator plate for transmitting the said unison rotation of said follower to said actuator plate and for permitting outward movement of said follower from the said valleys, and means for resiliently holding said follower in the valleys but allowing said follower to ride outwardly over said teeth upon continued rotation of said cam wheel and operator shaft following the limited switch actuating movement of said actuator plate.

7. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a first switch mechanism including a series of stationary contacts arranged in sequence and a movable contact, an operator shaft adapted to move said movable contact into selective engagement with individual ones of said stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequence, a second switch mechanism including a switch unit having a two position actuator, means for actuating said second switch mechanism upon reversal of the order of selecting said stationary contacts, including an actuator plate journaled for swinging movement, means for interconnecting said plate and said switch actuator for moving the latter from one to the other of its positions upon swinging of said plate, means for limiting the swinging movement of said plate to an amount sufiicient to actuate said switch unit, a cam fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, a follower adapted to engage said cam and to move unison with said cam, a lever pivotally mounted on said actuator plate for transmitting the said unison movement of said follower to said actuator plate and for permitting disengaging movement of said follower from said cam, and means for holding said follower in cam engaging position during initial movement of said operator shaft in a changed direction of rotation and for disengaging said follower upon continued rotation of said operator shaft following the limited switch actuating movement of said actuator plate.

8. electric switch comprising, in combination, a frame including parallel spaced frame plates, a series of stationary contacts in a coplanar circular arrangement parallel to said frame plates, an operator shaft journaled centrally of said frame plates, a circular disk fixed to said shaft and having a movable contact stud positioned to engage said stationary contacts in forward and reverse sequence upon forward and reverse rotation of said shaft, a star cam fixed on said shaft and having a series of radially projecting teeth defining intermediate valleys, first and second rollers positioned to ride over said cam teeth, first and second levers for supporting said respective rollers intermediate the ends of said levers, said first lever being pivotally mounted at one end portion on said frame and having a resilient connection between its second end portion and said frame for applying a resilient force to urge said first roller toward said cam to rotate the latter until said first roller lies in one of the said cam valleys, said cam and first roller being oriented with respect to said contacts such that the latter are selectively engaged when said first roller lies in the said cam valleys, a two position switch mechanism mounted on said frame and having an operating lever swingable between two switch positions about an axis parallel to said shaft, an actuating plate journaled on said shaft for relative rotation and having a pin and slot connection with said switch lever for moving the latter from one to the other of its switch positions, a pair of spaced abutments on said frame plates for limiting rotation of said actuator plate between the said switch positions, said second lever being pivotally mounted adjacent one end portion on said actuator plate and having a resilient connection between its other end portion and said actuator plate for resiliently holding said second roller in a valley of the cam wheel to rotate said actuator plate from one to the other of its limit positions upon reversal of rotation of said operator shaft and for resiliently releasing said second roller to ride over said cam teeth upon continued shaft rotation after said actuator plate reaches a limit position.

9. An electric switch comprising in combination an operator shaft adapted for reversible rotation, a selector switch mechanism including a movable member mounted on said operator shaft for unison rotation therewith, and a series of stationary switch elements arranged relative to said movable member for selective closing in both forward and reverse order upon reversible rotation of said movable member into switch operating positions, means for indexing said movable member into said switch operating positions including a cam rotatable in unison with said movable member and a resiliently biased follower, a two position switch mechanism having an actuator movable between first and second switch. positions, and means for moving said actuator to one or the other of its two position including a second follower positioned for engagement with said cam, said second follower being mounted for limited switch operating movement in unison with said cam upon initial movement of said movable member in forward and reverse directions and for movement relative to said cam upon continued movement of said movable member.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,067,557 Allison Ian. 12, 1937 2,423,361 VVOod July 1, 1947 2,577,225 Barry Dec. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 501,556 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1939 

